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Discussions between people with impaired vision and Iarnród Éireann

There have been discussions between people with impaired vision, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and Fiona Kelty (Access & Awareness Coordinator, NCBI) about the need for accessible identification of ticket-checkers on trains and in train stations. To date, the only solution we have come up with is that ticket-checkers should carry an ID card which has Braille on it.

This is not ideal, as the majority of people with impaired vision cannot read Braille. However, the very fact that someone is handing you a card with little raised dots on it shows that they are more than likely an employee of Irish Rail, rather than someone trying to steal your Social Welfare / Free Travel Card.

“Irish Rail Staff” in Braille

In the absence of any better ideas, Iarnród Éireann asked NCBI to assist them in the production of Braille ID cards for their staff members. All ticket-checkers now carry ID cards which have the words “Irish Rail Staff” written on them, in Braille.

This should provide some reassurance to people with impaired vision when they are being asked to show their Travel Passes. Irish Rail asked Fiona Kelty to inform people with impaired vision that ticket-checkers should produce these ID cards in future, when asked to identify themselves.

Iarnród Éireann has also requested NCBI to ask its service users, who might have better ideas about how ticket-checkers could be made identifiable to people with impaired vision, to make them known.

If you have any good ideas about this, please contact Fiona by phone: 01 8821950 or by